A screenshot of a cave from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim sparked a debate on Reddit about the game's graphical age. The poster initially claimed it showcased the original version's graphics but later corrected themselves, stating they were actually playing the Special Edition.
The cave in the screenshot features dense vegetation, fog, and soft incoming light. The version correction influenced people's perception of the graphics: The original version of The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim was released in November 2011, while the Special Edition launched in October 2016. The Special Edition updated the engine architecture and added volumetric lighting, fog effects, screen-space reflections, depth of field, new snow shading effects, and different color grading.
Regarding the look and feel of the two versions, players who frequently switch between them consider the original version's visuals flatter, while others prefer the aesthetics of the earlier release. Issues mentioned in this discussion include the washed-out daytime scenes, shadows, and repetitive distant ground textures in the original version.